theSun | FRIDAY JANUARY 30 2009
news without borders
MIC panel reinstates
K.P. Samy, quashes
Muthu’s expulsion
by Karen Arukesamy
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
KUALA LUMPUR: In a move to silence critics
who claim he is killing off those who challenge
him, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu
has re-admitted his fiercest critic and potential
contender for his party position.
“I have approved former Shahbandar, Shah
Alam, branch chairman K.P. Samy’s appeal to be
reinstated as a member of the party,” he said
after chairing the Central Working Committee
(CWC) meeting yesterday.
K.P. Samy, a vocal leader who had been very
critical of the leadership, was expelled last year
after openly supporting the massive demonstra-
tion in November by the Hindu Rights Action
Force (Hindraf) which has since been outlawed.
He is now reinstated as a member of the
party, Samy Vellu said, adding that all other
former members who have appealed will also
be considered and reinstated by stages.
Samy Vellu, however, was not present at a
press conference held after the CWC meeting
that lasted more than five hours.
His deputy Datuk G Palanivel told the press
conference the CWC had also recinded the
expulsion decision made by the party’s discipli-
nary board on Datuk M. Muthupalaniappan and
accepted his appeal to be reinstated.
“Although the members agreed that the deci-
sion was right because Muthupalaniappan made
many statements detrimental to the party and its
leadership, the committee also took into account
other factors.
MAS slashes fuel surcharge by up to 73%
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Airlines has
slashed fuel surcharge on its international
flights by as much as 73% after taking into
account lower fuel prices, competitive pres-
sures and the need to boost air travel during
this period of economic slowdown.
A statement issued by its communications
division said effective Jan 30, the national
carrier will remove the fuel surcharge from
its Singapore and Brunei flights. There has
also been a worldwide reduction of up to 54%
in fuel surcharge for flights across Asean.
By Feb 1, fuel surcharge on flights from
China will be reduced by up to US$100
(RM362), flights from Australia and New
Zealand by up to US$210 (RM760), and flights
from Middle East by up to US$150 (RM543).
Africa and North America flights will also
see a reduction of up to US$160 (RM580) and
US$185 (RM670) respectively.
MAS commercial director Datuk Rashid
Khan said: “We have always offered competi-
tive fares that are benchmarked against our
Storekeeper to hang for
drug trafficking
SHAH ALAM: A storekeeper was sentenced
to death by the High Court yesterday, when
he was found guilty of drug trafficking, about
three years ago.
Shahrullah Abdul Rakeb, 28, appeared calm
when sentence was passed by Judicial Com-
missioner Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim.
Abang Iskandar said the storekeeper had
failed to counter the prosecution’s case and in
his defence, also failed to prove that the drug
he was carrying was not his.
Shahrullah was accused of trafficking in
1,727g of cannabis outside the McDonald’s
outlet at the Projet petrol station at Lot
PT5946 of the Middle Ring Road II, off Kuala
Lumpur-Karak Expressway in Gombak, at
 7
“Considering that Muthupalaniappan is a
long-standing member, the committee decided
to accept his appeal, with a final warning to him
not to make further statements detrimental to
the party or its leadership, failing which he will
be expelled,” Palanivel said.
Muthupalaniappan’s reinstatement means
he can, at the March party polls, challenge Samy
Vellu, who will be going for his 11th term.
Asked whether Muthupalaniappan would be
allowed to contest, Palanivel said, “That is not in
the purview of the CWC. What we discussed is his
expulsion and appeal.” He repeated the answer
when asked whether K.P. Samy can contest in
branch elections on Feb 7.
Palanivel refused to comment on other party
matters, including the case of the missing files in
the MiED controversy.
Earlier, Samy Vellu criticised Umno Youth chief
Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein for his state-
ment in Utusan Malaysia yesterday pertaining to
police detainee A. Kugan’s death.
The education minister was quoted as saying
Samy Vellu should respect the country’s law,
“I am a law-abiding person. No one can coach
me on being one,” he said.
“The police are the custodians of the law but
when cases like Kugan’s (death in lock-up) hap-
pen, we cannot close our eyes.”
Hishammuddin made the comment following
Samy Vellu’s statement that MIC would defend
the two deputy ministers in the Prime Minister’s
Department, Senator T. Murugiah and Datuk S.K.
Devamany, who were alleged to have barged into
the mortuary of Serdang Hospital last Tuesday.
competitors on a route-by-route basis.
The latest revision in fuel surcharge is to
ensure even more competitive pricing.
“Our stand is that the total amount the
customer pays must be competitive, whether
it’s the fare alone or fare in combination with
the fuel surcharge. What’s important is the
total sum of the parts,” he said.
MAS had reduced fuel surcharge for
domestic travel on Jan 14 and did the same
earlier for international travel from Malaysia
to Korea, Japan, Hongkong, Paris, Germany
and from other points of sales to various
destinations.
Oil prices have fallen by almost 75%
since hitting a record high in July of US$147
(RM532) per barrel. Yesterday, jet fuel which
is higher priced compared with crude oil was
trading at US$55 (RM199) per barrel.
Despite this, MAS’s fuel cost is still higher
than when fuel surcharge was introduced in
2004. Rashid said fuel surcharge only covers
about 30% of the fuel cost.
8.15pm on Aug 10, 2005. – Bernama
Businesswoman robbed of
RM128,000
MIRI: Four men, one armed with a shot-
gun, robbed a businesswoman of cash and
valuables totalling RM128,000 in Pujut,
early yesterday.
The loot comprised the 57-year-old vic-
tim’s RM100,000 which she was forced to
surrender from a safe kept at her shop, a
Perodua Kancil bearing registration number
QMG840, a diamond ring and handphone.
Miri police chief ACP Jamaluddin Ibra-
him said the gang struck at the woman’s
house in Pujut about 2am, and forced her
to accompany them to the shop in Jalan
Permaisuri. – Bernama